Dali & Erhai Lake 大理·洱海

A walled city with 1,200 years of history, going back to the Nanzhao kingdom. Walk along the city gates, the Wuhua Tower and the old lanes, with the Cangshan mountains as a backdrop. Huguo Road is known as "Foreigners' Street".

Explore the shores of Erhai Lake by car or by bike. The east shore is quieter, with wide views and photo spots. The west shore is more traditional, with Bai villages and a car-free lakeside path that is perfect for cycling.

A Bai fishing village on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake, with the Cangshan mountains across the water. Locals say: the best views of Dali are at Erhai, and the best views of Erhai are at Shuanglang.

A short ferry ride takes you to Jinsuo (Golden Shuttle) Island, once the summer retreat of the Nanzhao kings. On the island, a boat glides through the Dragon Palace, a water cave full of stalactites reflected in the still water.

The best-preserved Bai village around Erhai Lake, with grand merchant houses, white walls and blue-tiled roofs set among rice and wheat fields. Try a freshly baked Xizhou baba, the local flatbread.

A sacred Buddhist mountain north-east of Dali, with temples and monasteries scattered through the forest. A cable car takes you close to the Golden Summit Temple at about 3,240 m, with views over the mountains of western Yunnan on a clear day.